Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-12-24
THE ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS.
The 25th of December Was original.
the Roman Saturnalia.

The 25th of December Was Originally
the Roman Saturnalia-
The celebration of Christmas as the
birthday Of Jesus is universal among
Christians of every sect, and as such it
Is regarded throughout Christendom as
the sweetest, hottest of all holidays. And
with the long mooted question, Is Dec. 20
the anniversary of Christ's birth' we have
nothing to do. For it matters nothing
whether it was on this particular
date that the Christ Child first
lay in Bethlehem's lowly manger.
This is the day that has been ac-
cepted and will be celebrated to the end
of time. 1t will be of interest to most
readers, however, to note that it was not
until the Third or Fourth century that
the present date was agreed upon, and
that Jan. !, Jan. 6, March 30 and Sept.
20 were variously observed during the
earlier centuries by various bodies of
Christians. The fixing of the date seems
to have been accomplished by Julius |,
who presided as pope or bishop of Rome
from 1877 to 352 A. D.
Christmas is not alone among Chris
tian holidays in being the follower of a
somewhat similar holiday among the pa
gans. In Rome 1t was called the Satur-
MALTA. And the observance of the winter
feast, now Christmas, was not confined to
the Romans. The holiday appears to
have been kept by the Scandinavians, the
Persians and the PhRnicians, and per-
haps by many other people. All these ma
tons worshiped the sun, under one form or
other, as the giver of all life. Each gave
the deity different name. At Rome he
was worshiped under one of the characters
attributed to Saturn, the father of the
gods; among the Scandinavians as Odin, or
Wooden, the father of Thor; with the Per-
slams as Mithras, probably the same as the
Irish Mithr, and with the Phenicians his
name was Baal or Bel.
All these nations chose about the same
date for this feast. This is supposed to
have been caused by the feelings OF de-
light experienced shortly after Dec. 81, be-
cause the days then begin 10 lengthen.
Then the sun begins his upward course,
and spring and summer are approaching.
For somewhat similar reasons the pagans
of old held great midsummer feast at or
about June 81.
The midwinter festival Of the Satur-
MALTA was observed for several days in
the most unrestrained manner; every
body Toasted and work was quite sus-
pended. Even the slaves were allowed
Laurels and evergreens were everywhere
displayed, the same as now, and gifts were
exchanged, and there were especial greet
ings for the season. In the north these
reioicings were carried on in some
what ruder fashion, but were en-
tered into with not less hearty
enthusiasm. Fires were everywhere kim
died, both indoors and out, in honor of
Odin and Thor; the Druids gathered the
sacred mistletoe, and both men and cattle
were sacrificed to the savage divinities.
The ancient Persians also burned immense
bonfires at this season. and between them
and the Druids of western Europe some
sort of relationship existed.
In the later days of the Roman empire
the feast of the Saturnalia deteriorated
into gross debauch-so gross, indeed,
that few historians have cared to defile
their pages with its details.
1t was for the purpose Of counteracting
the evil influences of the Saturnalia, to
the celebration of which the young of both
sexes were very prone, that the early
Christian teachers in Rome sought to
adapt the rites of heather rejoicing and
render them subservient, instead Of an
tagonistic, to the cause of religion. Ger
tain forms of amusement were forbidden
and others not so gross were substituted,
but it was long time before the people
and the clergy were of one mind regard
ing the observances of Christmas.
In Britain there were other modifica-
tons To the modified Saturnalia were
added first some of the Druidical rites and
superstitions, and, after the arrival OF the
Saxons, some Of the ceremonies of the
ancient Germans and Scandinavians. OF
bn hrtrr - ~, I,.lz
and the superstitions regarding the mis-
tletoe bough
In England the burning of the Yule log
takes place Christmas eve In feudal
times the bringing in of the ponderous
block ana burning it on the wide hearth
OF the great chimney of the baronial hall
was observed with the create est rejoicings.
The dragging of the Yule from the forest
to the castle was an elaborate ceremony
OF itself, and rs it passed, every wayfarer
raised his hat, for well he knew that its
flame would light up scenes of feasting
and forgiveness of old wrongs. and that
all would be welcome.
The following quaint ditty, apropos of
the Yule, is supposed to have been written
during the reign of Henry VI:
Welcome be thou. heavenly King:
Welcome, born on this morning;
nehpiie, JDr Enoin we shall sing.
Welcome Yuie.
Welcome be ye, Stephen and John;
welcome. lnnocents every one;
Welcome, Thomas, martyr enc;
Welcome Yue.
Welcome be ye. good New Year;
Welcome Twelfth day, both in fere:s
Welcome, saints loved and dear;
Welcome Yule. f.
Welcome be We, Caudlemas;
Welcome be We, queen Of bliss; e
Welcome both to more and less:
Welcome Yule-
Welcome be ye that are here:
Welcome all, and make good cheer:
Welcome all. another year;
- Welcome Yule.
tIn company.
Among the English the mistletoe boug-l
is always hung over the center Of the
room on Christmas Eve, and any damsel
who, either by chance or on purpose,
places herself beneath it has to pay the
penalty of being kissed by all the men
who are present
OF course none Of the fair sex ever
places herself under the mistletoe With
malice aforethought.
-. -
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